Swimming device



Jan. 10, 1928.

T. C. ENGLEHART SWIMMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1927 Inventor 6: Z950 Z'efiarl,

Patented glen it), W28.

a r a a THOMAS CAREY E IQGLEI-IART, OF UBBANA, OHIO.

SlVIMMING DEVICE.

Application filed September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,488.

This irwention relat s to new and useful improvements in swimming devices and aims to provide a device constructed for attachment to the hand of a sv-Jinn'n so as to assist a materially in the art oi: z-nvimming. By reason oi the present n /cation, the space bctween the ting swiunncfis hand is inereasingzj the area of closed for obvioir the water engaged during the back stroke at i the hanifl, the device bein so constructed as to feather through. the i stroke so as to 1 y i band action during swimming.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a disc of heavy rubber or other suitable strong and waterproof material constructed for attachment to the hand and wrist of the SWlllllllGl' an d at the palm sidcoi the hand. This disc is so reinforced at its 5 edge to prevent the colla 'ising of the disc but yet to permit the same to fold upon itself in a direction away from the hand during the forward stroke of the hand through the water so that the disc may properly 3 feather through the water and thereby prevent hindrance during the forward stroke.

The said. disc is prevented from folding upon itself during the backstroke by reason of the engagement of the same with the hand which 3a is usually in extended position during the backstroke.

T he invention further aims to provide simple means whereby the device may be rigidly associated with the hand.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout both of the views,

Figure 1 is a plan view oi the inner face of the device, partially broken away for dis closing the reinfol-cement. around the edge thereof, the hand being disclosed in dotted lines for more clearly indicating the position oi? the device thereto.

Figure 2 is a detail section taken substantially upon the line 22 of Figure 1 shown in full line extended position and in dotted line folded position.

New having particular reference to the drawings, my novel swimming device consists of a relatively large disc 5 of heavy rubber or other suitable flexible and water proofmaterial which disc is adapted to be disposed. upon the palm of the hand as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 to close the spaces between the thumb and fingers when in extended position to cause a greater displacement ct water during; the backstroke of the hand during swimn'iing. At the palm side of this disc 5 the same provided around its edge with a reinforcing ring 6 while termed at the edge of the disc is a tongue 7 adapted to extend over a portion o't' the wrist and to be secured thereto by a suitable strap 8 or any desirable fastening means. Furthermore, the palm side of this disc 5 is provided with a finger loop 9 of an elastic material for tight engagement over the index linger as disclosed in Figure l.

Arranged between the disc 5 and the reinforcing ring 6 is a sectional wire ring the sections of which are designated by the reference characters l0-10. The ends or these sections are provided with inter-fitting loops '1 1. whereby pivotal connections are provided between the ends of said sections to permit the disc to be folded over upon itself as indicated at Fig. 2 by the dotted lines.

Obviously, when the device is applied to the hand the engagement of the same against the water on the backstroke ofthe hand. will cause the same to assume the flat position indicated by full lines in Figure 2, being held in this position by its engagement with the palm of the hand so as to obviously cause a greater displacement of the water during the backstroke than is otherwise possible by the bare hand. During the forward stroke of the hand through the water, the said disc 5 will fold rearwardly so that the disc will feather through the water 'iermitting of the free forward stroke or"? the, hand during swimming.

ln view of the foregoing description when considered in ccmjuuction with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent --that I have provided a highly novel, simple and extren'iely eiiicicnt s-iwimmingr device that is well adapted to all of the purposes heretofore designated, and even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detail structural elements, it is nevertheless to be understood that some changes may be made therein without atfecting the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is In a swimming device of the character described, a disc of relatively strong but flexible material adapted to be disposed upon the loo liil

palm of a hand, means for securing the disc Wearers middle finger to permit. the disc to at its center to the palm of the hand and fold inwardly at its center so that the disc reinforcing means around the edge of the may feather through the Water during the 10 disc, said reinforcing means consisting of a forward stroke or the hand through the pair of ring sections and pivotal connections Water.

between the ends of the ring sections in aline- In testimony whereof I aliix my signature. ment with the longitudinal extent of the THOMAS: CAREY ENGLEHARI 

